Hellenic Political Science Association Hosts its 12th National Congress in Athens

Photo (left to right): Marilena Simiti (University of Piraeus), Gerasimos Moschonas (Panteion University); Dimitris Charalambis (President of the Hellenic Political Science Association, University of Athens); Konstantina Botsiou (University of Piraeus); Nikolaos Demertzis (University of Athens); and Yannis Stavrakakis (University of Thessaloniki).

The 12th National Congress of the Hellenic Political Science Association (HPSA) was held at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Panteion University, in collaboration with their respective political science departments, from 30 October to 1 November 2025. Under the theme “Democracy at a Crossroads: The Crisis of Liberal Democracy and the Threat of Authoritarianism,” the Congress examined the global decline of liberal democracy, the rise of autocratic movements, and the erosion of trust in political institutions.

The three-day event featured 24 panels and three plenary sessions, with 115 political scientists selected from over 180 submissions from Greece and beyond.

The opening plenary featured Prof. Ioannis Papadopoulos from the University of Lausanne. The second plenary featured the eight presidents of political science and international relations departments in Greece, while the closing plenary included current and past HPSA presidents, along with senior scholars.

The Congress provided a rich forum for reflection on the contemporary crisis of democracy and the rise of autocracy, while offering diverse perspectives on the prospects for democratic renewal and institutional resilience.

Find out more: www.hpsa.gr